Seat support



ff `4 sheets-sner 1 Jan. l2, 1960 H. H. FANTE 'ErAL SEAT SUPPORT Filed may 25, 1955 H. H. FANTE ETAL SEAT SUPPORT `Ian. 12, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1955 gaa/IM THE/R Arron/VHS Jann.` 12, 196() H. H. FANTE ETAL SEAT SUPPORT Filed May 25, 195s 4 sheets-sheet s INVENTORS.: Harry H. Fanf` August 7i Gon/a mfy Q M 7k THE/R ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1960 H. H11-'ANTE ETAL SEAT SUPPORT 4 SheetsSheet 4 Filed May 25, 1955 lulu lags 15g/|24 |28 @fue 8 s a 5 OnPrm N l Tmc R WFM m www, N, .uy m

HA .m

wherein:

' States vPatent O i SEAT SUPPORT Application May 25, 1955, serial No. 510,994

A 19 Claims. (cl. 15s- 14) `This invention relates to a seat support selectively operable to move a seat mounted thereon up and down in vertical adjustment, fore and aft in a horizontal sense, and forwardly and rearwardly in a tilting sense.

" An illustrative embodiment of the present seat support invention is shown in the accompanying drawings a a Figure 1 is a side elevational view operated seat support;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the support of Figure l but ywith the showing of Figure 7 removed;

'Figures 3, 4, and 5 are transverse sectional views in elevation taken along the section lines III- IIL IV--IV, and V--V of Figure 1;

of the present power h 1 Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation corresponding to Figure 1;

rFigure 7 is a view taken along the section lines VII- VII of Figure 1 to show the power operating mechanism;

and

vFigure 8 is a bottom plan view of the mechanism of Figure 7. v

In more particular reference to the drawings, a seat adjusting support indicated at 10 is arnanged to support a seat cushion structure 12 in adjusted positions thereon. Ther support 10 may readily be adapted to support additionally a back rest (not shown) byv means of conventional pivotal or fixed connections to the latter provided in well-known manner.

The seat support 10 includes a cushion receiving saddle frame 14, a vertically movable supporting frame 16 disposed centrally of the saddle frame for supporting the same, and a stationary ybase plate 18 disposed below the frames 14 and 16 and adapted to be rigidly mounted to a load carrying iioor structure, such as awfloor pan or the like in an automotive vehicle, for instance.

An upwardly open hollow column 20 located substanltially centrally with respect to the frames 14 and 16 has a transversely flanged circular base portion` which is welded `or otherwise secured at 22 to the base plate 18,

and the column 20 extends vertically upwardly from its base portion along the columns central axis indicated at 24. A vertically slidable cylindrical center post 26 is received within the upwardly open hollow interior of the column and is guided `by the adjacent inside walls of the latter which is of tubular construction so as to be complemental-in cross section to the cylindrical slidable post. The slidable post 26 has an extremity of reduced cross section at its upper end which protrudes beyond a f shoulder 28 thereabout through, `and is peened over adjacent to, the margins of a circular opening formed in the mid-portion of a piece of flat sheet metal 30 incorporated in the supporting frame 16, thereby affording a rigid connection between the verticallysliding center post 26 and the supporting frame 16 which is restrained thereby to positions of movement along the vertical axis 24. Additional fastener means, such as screws, may be "provided to strengthen this rigid connection, beingl Ladapted 1n vthe obvious mannerto pass"throughsheet"Y ICC Patented l Jan. 12, 1960 30, as noted, `is a composite welded together structure which also incorporates at the sides of, but below, the sheet a pair of spaced apart longitudinal side rails 32, each welded-along its length to the underside of the sheet 30 and provided with a downwardly depending apertured lug 34 at i-ts forward end. An appropriate set of spaced apart cross members (not shown) may be provided transversely between the opposite ends of the side rails 32 and affixed to `the underside of the sheet 30 to provide additional twist rigidity to the frame 16, if desired. The apertures in the lugs 34 of` the side rails 32 receive and carry a fixed transversely 'disposed solid rod axle 36 therewithin having an axis 37 and extending beneath the entire front endporton of the supporting frame 16 and the seat cushion 12. A shaft 38 formed of another solid rod is disposed transversely across, the rear of the supporting frame 16 and is fixed a-t its 4opposite ends securely in aligned apertures formed in the rear ends of the side rails 32. Adjacent the side rails 32, a vertically disposed pair of spaced apart swingable links 40 depends from the 'shaft 38 and the links 40 are pinned at their upper ends at 42 to the shaft, Figure 5. At the lower end, each of the links 40 is apertured to receive a swinging axle 44 formed of a solid rod extending transversely of the rear end of the supporting frame 16. Another pin at I6 toward the bottom of each of the links v40 securesthe lower end portion thereof stationarily and non-rotatably to the axle 44.

The supporting frame 16 is adapted to support thesaddle frame 14 which, in effect, vstraddles the former and has its frame plane in-a closely spaced position of Aadjacency to the supporting' frame 16 and insubstantially parallel relationship. The saddle frame 14 includes a pair of spaced apart front and rear cross members 48 rand 50, Figure 2, which are connected intermediate their ends by means of a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart rollerrails 52 welded to or otherwise secured thereto, Figure 4. A pair of longitudinally extending rectangular metal sheets 54, which are spaced-apart in a transverse sense, are mounted to the top of the cross` members 48,` 50, and the roller rails to `complete the saddle frame, andat each of the opposite side edgesfa short upstanding metal lip 56 is aliixed tothe saddle frame so as to define a cushion receiving recess at 58 of which the sheets 54 form the respective spacedapart portions of the oor. Each of the metal lips 56 at their forward ends may include a downwardly depending plate integral therewith or welded thereto at60 so as to be parallel to .and adjacent the respective opposite sides of fthe seat cushion. f v

Means is provided as follows for shiftably supporting the saddle frame 14 and the cushion member 12 received in the recess 58 in the saddle member, in a manner whereby both members are subjected to fore and aft movement. The opposite ends of the xed front axle 36 carried lby the side rail lugs 34 protrude through a pair of aligned elongated slots 62 formed in the spaced apant sideplates 60 just noted. Intermediate its opposite ends, the axle 36 rotatably mounts a front pair of antifriction wheels or rollers 64 which engage the underside of the rollers rails 52 at the front end of the saddle frame 14. Thus, through the antifriction rollers, the front axle 36 is `effective to shiftably support the front of the saddle frame 14 for :fore and aft movement and this movement is limited by the precise lengthof the slots 62 in the plates 60 which are rigid with the saddle frame 14. The rearaxle 44 supported by the swingable depending links 40 carries a similar pair of spacedy apart antifriction Awheels orl rear' ro1lers`66 which engage the undersides of the roller rails 52 adjacent their rear ends. Intermediate the ends of the roller rails 52, a pair of triangularly shaped depending drive plates 68 is welded or ,otherwise secured to the outside face of the roller rails. The drive plates 68 are apertured at their lower ends and receive therein a transversely disposed solid rod 70, Figure 4, secured at its opposite ends -to the plates 60 as byrneans of threaded nut .retainers 72. At a point adjacent one `of its ends, the rond 70 receives thereabout a hollow square block of metal 7 4 which is pinned thereto against axial shift at 76. A fore and aft adjusting operating rod 78 is threaded or otherwise secured to the hollow block 74 at its forward end and extends rearwardly therefrom to a point above the case of a power transmitting mechanism 80 aihxed to the base plate 18. "[wo or more pairs of triangularly shaped gusset plates at 82 and `8 4 may be provided as outrigger reinforcements between the roller rails 52 and the rectangular metal sheets 54 forming the saddle frame 14 and secured thereto by welding.

4Seat tilting means is provided as follows for swinging the swinging axle 44 and the pair of rear rollers 66 which are A(:arried thereby and which, along with the function of slidably supporting the` roller rails 52 of the saddle frame, also function, as will be noted, to tilt the seat cushion and thesaddle frame 14 forwardly and rearwardrly 'about the fixed axis 37 of the front roller axle 3 6 and the front rollers 64 as a center. Adjacent the mid-portion yof the cross shaft 38 at the rear of the supporting frame 16 a diagonally forwardly extending drive lever 86, Figure 6, is provided which is apertured at its upper end and receives the shaft 38 therethrough land is pinned to the latter shaft as by means of a pin 88. At

the `lower end, the drive lever 86 carries a pivot joint pin 90 and at its mid-portion between the opposite ends, the ydrive lever 86 is arranged to swing into engagement with the swinging axle 44 adjacent the mid-portion of the latter. clevis carrying pull rod 92 presents a bifurcated clevis portion at its forward end which is secured to the pivot joint pin 90, and at its rear end the clevis carrying pull rod 92 extends to a point immediately above the case of the power transmitting mechanism 80. Rear- `ward movement of the clevis carrying pull rod 92, being to the right as viewed in Figures 2 and 6, causes the depending drive lever 86 to rotate counterclockwise about the fixed shaft 38 and move into solid engagement with `the swinging axle 44 which carries the rollers 66. Continued movement of the clevis carrying pull rod 92 results 'in the swinging of the axle 44 into -a vertically displaced position about the fixed shaft 38 as ya center so as to move the rear rollers 66 from their lowermost solid line posi- ,tion shown by solid lines in Figure 6 into an intermediate or into an upper dotted line position shown by the dotted lines 66a. The rear ends of the roller rails 52, which are supported on the rear rollers 66, are caused to `be lifted upwardly so as to tilt the saddle frame 16 and the seat vcushion 12 about the axis 37 of the fixed axle 36 and the front rollers 64. Release of the clevis carrying pull rod 92 into lowered positions permits the rear rollers 66 and 'the rear of the saddle frame 14 to be restored toward or to resume their substantially normal untilted position of parallelism to the supporting frame 16.

Seat elevating means is provided as follows for shiftably supporting the supporting frame 16 and the companion saddle frame 14 in a vertical direction toward :and away from thepbase plate 18. A pair of spaced apart ltransversely dlsposed H-frame members 9.4 land 96 incorporate a central horizontal cross bar in `their constructione and each is provided with a pair of upwardly extending leg portions 98, Figure 3, which are 'pivotally connected as by means of a bolt and nut pivot 100 to the laterally aligned opposite extremities 34 of lthe side ralls for lthe supporting frame 16. The H-frame memlbers 94 and 96 have a substantially vertical disposition and thelr upper and psrtigns 98 mail@ upwardly @ed downwardly with the supporting frame 16 in depending relationship thereto in parallel paths of travel' to the center post 26. The lower legs as at 102 on the H-frame members are disposed adjacent to two pairs of spaced apart bearing brackets 104 secured to the base plate 18 as by welding or otherwise. Each pair of bearing brackets 104 receives the opposite ends of a transverse solid rod shaft 106 journaled for rocking movement therein. A pair of spaced apart short toggle links 108 disposed adjacent to the legs of the H-frame members at 102 have their outer swinging ends pivotally connected to the H-frame lower leg portions 102 and have pivoted inner ends keyed or otherwise made fast to the shaft 106 for oscillatory rotation therewith. At corresponding ends of the rock shafts 106, a. pair ofbifurcated levers 110 is splined thereto and arranged with each lever disposed in a parallel relationship to the other lever 110. The 'upper or free ends of the levers 110 are pivotally connected to spaced apart points on a longitudinally extending drive link 112 which together with the parallel levers 110 assumes the arrangement of a p'arallelogram. The extreme rear end of the drive link 112 is connected by means of a pivot 114 to the bifurcated clevised end of a clevis carrying push rod 116 which extends rearwardly to a point immediately labove the casing of the power transmitting mechanism 80. When the clevis carrying push rod 116 is pushed to the left as viewed in Figure l, the drive link `112 is similarly moved to the left and the levers 110 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the rock shaft 106 to which theyk are splined. The

pairs of toggle links 108 move counterclockwise conjointly with the levers 110 and cooperate with the H-frame members 94 and 96 after the fashion of a toggle press to press the front ends and the rear ends ofthe support frame side rails 32 simultaneously upwardly.

The cushion 12 and the supporting frame 16 of Figure 1 are shown in their lowermost shiftably supported position maintained by the seat elevating mechanism just described. Power means which includes the power transmitting mechanism 80 is provided for adjusting the respective block connected rod 78, clevis carrying pull rod 92, and clevis carrying push rod 116 for appropriately shifting the fore land aft drive plates 68, the forwardly and rearwardly tilting drive lever 86, andthe tup and down controlling drive link 112 so as to control the position of the seat.

The power means just referred to is best seen in Figures 7 and. 8. The power means includes a common electric drive motor 113, a gear box 120,1and a motion translating box 122. Protruding out of the upper surface of the motion translating box 122 there are provided three identical spaced apart ball studs 124 which are received at their upper end within peened-over tubular cups 126 vcarried by the rear endsy of the respective operating rod 78 for fore Aand aft seat adjustment, the clevis carrying pull rod 92y for forwardly and rearwardly tilting action, and the clevis carrying push rod 116 for elevational ladjustrnentsof the seat cushion 12 in an up and down direction. Each of the ball studs 124 is threadably or otherwise secured to a rectilinearly moving nut 128 which is non-rotatably mounted fand receives and is connected by ball bearings to the ythreads of a threaded shaft 130. At one end the shafts 130 are journaled for rotation in an end plate 132 which is y secured by screws at the outer end of :a detachable cover 134 forming the outside case of the power transmitting mechanism80. At the opposite end .each of the shafts 130 passes through the hub of a gear 1,36 which meshes with'the similar'gears 136 for driving the other shafts 130. The gears 136 `are not directly :secured to ythe shafts but are carried. by means of a sleeve 138 `set on sleeve bearings so as to be relatively rotatable with respect tothe shaft and keyed to the gear v1.36: .v

ri`he arrangement of the gears and shafts is identical is all @tasca here Russland and. in the interests .cf

wbrevity, only `one of the shafts 130 in the power transmitting mechanism 80 will be particularly described as follows. The gear and the sleeve 138 are coupled to and decoupled at will from the shaft 130 by any suitable clutch means and aV magnetic clutch arrangement at 140 is illustrative of one such clutch means.` An annular magnetizable field pole 142 is splined to the sleeve 138 and a thick armature member 144 is disposed opposite `to the field pole 142 and is secured fast to the shaft 130 as by means of a pin,146. A multi-wound electromagnetic coil 148 is provided within the armature 144 and is provided with a pair ofI conductors for energizing the same, `one of whichis grounded at its terminal and the other is indicated at 150 located on a switchbox 152. The train of intermeshed gears 136 is driven from a pinion 154 mounted for synchronized rotation in the gear box 120 with a large gear 156. 'The large gear 156 is in turn driven by a pinion 158 carried on the rotor shaft 160 of the double wound rotor of the motor 118.

vThe different connectionsfor the windings of the double wound rotor are shown at 162 and 164' on the switchbox 152. A battery as at 166 is provided to energize the switchbox 152. The switchbox152 has amanually conv jtrolled flip switch lever 168 movable from a neutral position 168a into opposite operating positions `168b and l 168C. In each of the operating positions 168b and 168C `of the switch lever, .the switchbox 152 forms aconnection to the battery 166 to energize the magnetic clutch 140 for the shaft 130 and similar switchboxes` are provided for each of the magnetic clutches controlling thel other .shafts 130. In one operating position of the` switch lever, the terminal 162 for one motor wind is energized, whereas in the opposite operating position, the terminal 164 for the other winding of the motor 118 is energized. Thus, the motor 1,18 may be operated in a forward or reverse direction at the will of the operator controlling the switchbox 152 and ineither case, the magnetic clutch 140 will couple together the input gear 136 and the rotatable -shaft 130. Rotation of the shaft 130 in one direction or the other results in pure rectilinear motion of the nut 128 in one direction or the otherso as to shift theI position of the seat operating rod connected thereto. The selection of `the pitch of the threads on the motion translating shaft 130 is such as to` provide a nonyreversible drive whereby the shaft 130, under normal conditions, can drive the nut 128 linearly, whereas normal` loads linearly on Ithe nut 128 are insucientto dis- "turb the position of the shaft or of the nut 128.

Operation of the seat support tto shift the seat cushion adjustably fore and aft is as` follows. The switch lever on the switchbox`152 is moved from `neutral position into Yan operating position so as to energize one winding of the, reversible motor `118 and simultaneously energize the magnetic clutch 140 to cause appropriate `travel of the nut 128 along the threaded shaft 130.` The clevis carrying push rod 78 connected to the saddle frame 14 by means of the drive plates 68 causes the saddle frame 14 and its roller engaging side rails 52 to shift forwardly along the rollers and rearwardly along the lrollers in antifriction motion. This fore and aft movement is accompanied by no corresponding movement of the supporting frame 16 which is restrained against fore and aft motion by means of the guide post 26.`

The operation of theseat support 10 to raise and lower thev seat is as` follows. By means of an appropriate switch and an electromagnetic clutch in the power transmitting mechanism 80, the4 motor 118 is connected;y to

.drive the respective ball stud 124 and the clevis carrying pushrod 116, moving the latter forwardly as viewed in Figure l. The parallelogram type linkage` 110, 112

causesthe spaced apart shafts 106 to rotate and toggle press` the supporting `frame side rails 32 upwardly or downwardly so as. to adjust the vertical elevation'of the Seat Cushion 12 in coordinated movement at the four `Operation of the seat support 10 to tilt the seat cushion 12 forwardly and rearwardly is as follows. `Appropriate actuation of the common motor 118 and corresponding `motion of translation of the center one of the ball studs 124, Figure 7, causes the clevis carrying pull rod 92 to pull rearwardly on the drive lever 86, Figure 6, so as to swing the rear rollers 66 counterclockwise and in a vertical sense for lifting the rear ends of the saddle frame side rails 52. Reverse operation of the" motor 118 causes the rear ends of the saddle frame side rails 52 to be lowered. 1

From the foregoing discussion of the seat operation, it will thus become apparent that a single motor 118 is utilizable tofselectively furnish a .fore and aft movement, an up and down movement, and a forwardly andrearwardly tilting movement independently of one another, or simultaneously depending upon the position of the switch controls therefor. `Regardless of which electromagnetic clutch is energized, the double wound motor always has one drive winding simultaneously energized so aS Vto continually drive the input gears 136 for the threaded shafts 130. Independent switches are provided forenergizing the electromagnetic clutches 140 with the resultthat all clutches or any combination of the clutches may be energized at will simultaneously with or during running operation of the motor 118. f

As herein disclosed,` the seat cushion and seat support are shown proportioned in width and length to accommodate a single occupant., It is evident that the invention is applicable to seat cushions and supports of varying widths and lengths depending on the occupant carrying capacity` desired.`

While we have described certainv presently preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the `following claims. t

We claim: t

. thereon fore and aft and up and downand adapted to tilt the same forwardly and rearwardly comprising first and second companion frames, a base, means connected .to the rst frame and to the base for shiftably supporting the frames for conjoint up and down movement with respect to the base, said frames being generally horizontally disposed with the plane of each frame adjacent the other frame, cooperating rail members and antifriction elements connected between the frames and engaging one another to accommodate relative horizontal shift between the frames substantially in their own plane, and means carried by the first frame capable of limited'relative movement Ithereto for elevating the rail members and .antifriction elements at one end to provide for limited out-of-plane tilting movement of the second frame toward a desired oblique position with respect to the first frame.

2. A seat support adapted to move a seat supported thereon fore and aft, up and down, and to tilt the same forwardly and rearwardly, comprising first and second companion frames, a base, means connected to the rst frame and to the base for shiftably supporting the frames for up and down movement with respect -to the base, said frames being generally horizontally disposed with the plane of each frame adjacent the other frame, a set of rail `members and antifriction elements forming an operative connectionfbetween the frames and engaging one another to accommodate relative shift between the frames, means connected to the second frame fork effecting said relative horizontal shift between the frames,` and means carried by the first frame capable of limited relative movement thereto for elevating the set of antifriction elements and rail members at one end to provide for limited out-of-plane tilting movement of the second frame toward a desired oblique position with respect to the first frame. n

3l. A seat support adapted to move Ia seat supported `thereon fore `and aft and upwardly andy downwardly, and

-nected at one end `thereto and pivoted at the opposite end to the base, .spaced apart fixed and swinging axles carried by the frame, cushion holding structure cornprising load supporting rails shiftably engageable with means carried by the axles for longitudinal adjustment ,into adjusted positions thereupon, means for swinging the swinging axle on the frame to tilt the load support- .ing rails, Vmeans for guiding the frame during up and -downmovement relative to the base, and means for ro- I.tating the links for conjointly moving the frame and the `:load supporting. rails in the aforesaid guided up and kdown movement relative to the base.

4.k A lseatsupport adapted to move a seat mounted thereon vforeand a'ft and upwardly and downwardly, and vfurther adapted to tilt the seat forwardly and rearwardly, said support` comprising a base, a frame, means shiftably .supporting .the frame in guided positions in a vertica-l yrpath with respect to the base, spaced apart, iixed and .swinging axles carried by fixed and swinging means mounted .to the frame, cushion holding structure comprising load supporting rails shiftably engageable with --means carried by the axles for longitudinal movement into adjusted positions thereupon, means for shifting the rrails longitudinally with respect to the frame, means for ,swinging the swinging axle on the frame to tilt the load supporting rails, and side plates connected ffor movement lwith the load supporting rails and receiving the ,ends of the viixed axle to limit longitudinal movement of .the rails. i

5. A seat support adapted to move a seat mounted thereon fore and aft and upwardly and downwardly, and Afurther adapted to tilt the seat forwardly and rearwardly,

:said support comprising a base, a frame having fixedv .and swinging axles transversely disposed thereto at spaced apart locations, means shiftably supporting the iframe in guided .positions in a vertical path with respect to the base, transversely aligned `load supporting rails `shiftably engageable with means carried by the axles for longitudinal movement into adjusted positions thereupon, -means for shifting the rails longitudinally with respect to the frame, and means to pivot the swinging axle relative .to the iixed axle on the frame to tilt the rails.

46. In a seat support adapted to move a seat mounted thereon fore and aft and up and down and further adapted to tilt the seat forwardly and rearwardly, -a base, a generally rectangular frame thereabove and cooperating with interposed means guiding it for vertical move- .ment toward and from the base, Vframe supporting sets of swinging links connected between and engaging the base and the frame at the four corners of the latter and forming toggle joints which, when moved toward straight- :cned-out position, cause the vertically guided frame to move upwardly relative to the base, transversely aligned -load carrying roller rails having sets of supporting rollxers shiftably supporting the same, separate means mount- `ing the sets ofrollers to the frame, the mounting means vlfor at least one set `of rollers being shiftably connected -to the frame to render the sets of rollers capable of limited movement to one another in a vertical sense for tilting the rails, and means for swinging theframe supporting links to lift the frame bodily by means of unifrformly applied toggle action so as to forcibly cause the yaccompanying movement therewith of the roller rails and all supporting sets of rollers together.

. 7. In combination with a supported frame member and a .supporting base member therefor, a centrally disposed ydevice connected between the members for guidling ,the frame member along a vertical path toward and .tirera-tas ses? .Swinging ses. of suppnrring links lconnected'between and engaging the-members at points surrounding the guiding device'and forming toggle-joints which, when moved toward straightened-out position,

cause the vertically guided frame member to move upwardly relative tothe base member, load carrying roller rails connected for movement together and having sets .of supporting rollers shiftably .supporting the same, `separate means .mounting the sets of rollers to the -frame member, the mounting means for at least one set of rollers being relatively shiftable with respect tothe frame member to render the .sets of rollers capable of l-imited relative movement to one another in a vertical sense for tilting the roller rails, and means for swinging the frame .supporting links to .lift the frame bodily by means off uniformly applied toggle action for shifting the sets of supporting rollers and roller rails together.

8. In combination, a hase, a generally rectangular frame thereabove having means guiding it for vertical ,movement toward and from the base, frame supporting sets of swinging links connected by and engaging the base and the frame at spaced apart points and forming toggle jointswhich, vwhen moved toward straightened- 'lout position, cause the vertically guided frame to move upwardly relative to the base, seat-connected roller rails .render the sets of rollers capable of limited movement relative to one another in .a vertical sense for tilting 'the roller rails, means including a drive lever `for shifting the roller mounting means to tilt the roller rails, and means for swinging the frame supporting links to lift the frame bodily by means of uniformly applied toggle action for raising-.the supporting rollers and the roller rails in unison.

.9. "In a seat support selectively adapted to tilt a seat cushion mounted thereon and to move the same up and down and fore and aft, a cushion receiving member, a base, first mechanism connected to and shiftably supporting the member for up and down guided movement relative to the base, said mechanism including a drive link element, second mechanism connected to and shi-ft- 'ably supporting the member for fore and aft movement relative to the base, said second mechanism including a drive plate element and swingably supported antifr'iction means, third mechanis-m including a drive lever element and the swingably supported antifriction means for swinging the latter to tilt said member, power transmitting mechanism and to different ones of said drive elements for operating the seat support in the above described manner.

1Q. A seat ,support selectively adapted to tilt 'a seat cushion mounted thereon and move the same up and down and fore and aft, said support including a cushion receiving member, a base, first mechanism connected to and shiftably supporting the cushion receiving member for up and down guided movement relative to the base, second mechanism connected to and shiftably supporting the cushion receiving member for fore and aft movement relative to the base, said second mechanism including swingably supported antifriction means, third mechanism including the swingably supported antifriction means for swinging the latter to tilt the cushion receiving member, power transmitting mechanism having a single .drive motor, and seat operating members connected between the power transmitting mechanism and the different ones of said seat operatingrnechanisms for operating the lseat support in the above described manner, said power transmitting mechanism .having a selective means for operating said seat operating mechanisms individually or simultaneously.

11. In combination, a frame carrying supported member arranged with a generally rectangular shape and having a depending supporting link at each corner pivotally mounted thereto on a xed axis, a seat frame adjustably carried by said supported member so as to be capable of limited relative movement thereon in a longitudinal direction, a supporting member there below, means operatively connecting said supporting member to said supporting links to move the supported member up and down, and a guide assembly for guidably connecting the supported member to the supporting member to dene a fixed substantially vertical axis for movement of the former and comprising a telescoping column part operatively connected to the center portion of each of said members and intertting with one another to keep the sup-ported member centered on said vertical axis.

12. In a seat construction, the combination of a frame carrying supported member having supporting link means depending therefrom for attachment to a base to raise and lower the supported member, underslung rollers on said frame carrying supported member to enable the frame carried thereby to run forwardly and rearwardly independently of the raised position of the supported member, and a post assembly having means of attachment to a base to deiine a xed vertical axis and operatively connected to the center of the supported member to keep it centered on said axis.

13. In a seat construction, the combination of a frame carrying supported member having depending supporting link means at each corner pivotally mounted thereto on a fixed axis, a seat frame adjustably carried by said supported member so as to be capable of limited relative movement thereon in a longitudinal direction, support means comprising a rotatable link connected to each link means and together producing uniform toggle action which by straightening at the joints when rotated is effective to toggle press the support means upwardly relative to a base, and a post assembly having means for attachment to that base to deline a fixed vertical axis and operatively connected to the center of the supported member to keep it centered on said vertical axis.

14. A seat construction comprising the combination of a frame-carrying supported member having depending supporting link means at each corner pivotally mounted thereto on a fixed axis, an adjustable seat frame carried by said supported member, support means comprising a rotatable link pivotally joined to each link means and together producing uniform toggle action which by straightening at the joints when rotated is eective to toggle press the support means upwardly relative to a base, a post assembly having means for attachment to that base to define a fixed vertical axis and operatively connected to the center of the supported member to keep it centered on said vertical axis, power shaft means journalled for rotation on a xed axis and having screw threads thereon, means operatively connecting said shaft to said rotatable links for simultaneous operation, and power delivery means connected to rotate said shaft in opposite directions relative to the xed axis thereof.

15. In a vehicle seat assembly, a base adapted to be ixed tothe vehicle floor, a member mounted for vertical adjustment on said base, a cushion support member mounted for forward and rearward adjustment on said vertically adjustable member, and for upward and downward tilting adjustment on said vertically adjustable member, mechanisms for independently eiecting each of said adjustments, a reversible motor assembly providing a source of power for actuating said adjustments, and means for selectively drive connecting said motor assembly to any one of said mechanisms.

16. In the assembly defined in claim 1, said vertical adjustment mechanism comprising vertical slide guide means and an expansible and contractible linkage disposed between said base and said vertically adjustable member.

17. In the assembly dened in claim l, said cushion support member being a frame straddling said vertically adjustable member and said forward and rearward adjustment mechanism comprising slide guide means interconnecting said frame and said vertically adjustable member.

18. In the assembly delined in claim l, said cushion support member having a slide pivot connection to said vertically adjustable member, and said tilting adjustment comprising means for tilting said cushion support member about said pivot.

19.'In the assembly defined in claim 18, said pivotv being located adjacent the front sides of said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 357,688 Poolman et al Feb. 15,1887 1,529,138 Kuentzel Mar. 10, 1925 1,807,960 Brownell June 2, 1931 1,981,680 Tindale Nov. 20, 1934 2,041,615 Maslowski May 19, 1936 2,090,579 Grinnell Aug. 17, 1937 2,239,917 Hunter et al Apr. 29, 1941 2,579,599 Moroney Dec. 25, 1951 2,624,535 Bollhoefer Jan. 6, 1953 2,645,538 Segal July 14, 1953 2,646,839 Hillman July 28, 1953 2,809,688 Brundage Oct. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 513,262 Great Britain Oct. 9, 1939 551,808 Great Britain ..-..t March 10, 1943 1,023,401 France Dec. 30, 1952 1,090,090 France Oct. 13, 19,54

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 29920684 January 12, 1960 Harry H., Fante et al It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

. Column 7l line 65 before "movement" insert relative column 8v line 52v ,after "mechanism" insert having a common drive motor, and seat operating members connected to the power transmitting mechanism Signed and sealed this 23rd day of August 1960.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL C AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

